Wednesday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Turfway’s $2,864 Super High 5 carryover

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Tampa Bay Downs and Turf Paradise, along with horses to use in Turfway Park’s $2,864 Super High 5 carryover.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• New Players $200 Sign-Up Bonus: Open your TwinSpires.com account using the offer code BET200 to start earning a $200 bonus.

Today’s TwinSpires tournaments include:

• $40 Tampa Bay Downs Challenge
• $120 Tampa Bay Downs Feeder to 1/17 Lecomte KDBC Qualifier
• $40 Turfway Park Challenge
• $200 Turfway Park Feeder to 1/25 Fair Grounds/Aqueduct KDBC/NHC Qualifier

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 2: $16,000 Maiden Claiming (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 12:50 p.m. ET)

#2 Chaos Comin (5-2) showed speed in a six-furlong $25,000 maiden claimer at Tampa last month, setting the pace for half a mile before tiring to finish sixth in an 11-horse field.

Adding Lasix and dropping down to the $16,000 level should help Chaos Comin carry his speed to the winner’s circle. The fact that he’s picking up Tampa’s top jockey, Samuel Marin, adds to the appeal.

#7 Power Wrench (9-5) can battle #1 Fast Prince (6-1) to complete the exacta.

Selections

• #2 Chaos Comin (5-2)
• #7 Power Wrench (9-5)
• #1 Fast Prince (6-1)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #2 Chaos Comin
• $6 Exacta: 2 with 7
• $4 Exacta: 2 with 1
  Total: $30

Tampa Bay Downs: Race 5: $16,000 Maiden Claiming (1 1/16 miles on turf, 2:20 p.m. ET)

#1 Flighttown (3-1) has run twice against maiden special weight competition on turf. She finished a distant eighth in her debut at Saratoga (a race won by next-out P. G. Johnson S. winner Time to Dream), then improved to fourth place (beaten only 4 1/2 lengths) in her second start at Colonial Downs.

Returning to grass for a $16,000 maiden claimer should put Flighttown in win contention. Take note: this is her first start since being claimed by Richard Sillaman, a 22% winner with new claiming acquisitions.

#7 Whiskey Whim (5-2), runner-up over this course and class level on Dec. 6, can round out the exacta.

Selections

• #1 Flighttown (3-1)
• #7 Whiskey Whim (5-2)
• #3 Annie Way (10-1)

Wagers

• $22 to win on #1 Flighttown
• $8 Exacta: 1 with 7
  Total: $30

Turf Paradise: Race 8: Maiden Special Weight (5 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 7:05 p.m. ET)

#10 Western Feel (4-1) ran well against fellow Arizona-breds in the six-furlong Arizona Breeders’ Futurity at Turf Paradise last month. She tracked the pace in third, then stayed on to finish second, earning a 65 Brisnet Speed rating that stacks up well against Wednesday’s field.

Tackling a non-state-restricted maiden special weight should suit Western Feel just fine, and her 4-1 morning-line odds are enticing. Let’s bet her to win and call it a day.

Selections

• #10 Western Feel (4-1)
• #1 Hidden Beauty (10-1)
• #8 Arizona Rose (9-2)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #10 Western Feel

Carryover Watch

Turfway Park: Race 9: $2,864 Super High 5 carryover (9:55 p.m. ET)

Racing resumes at Turfway Park on Wednesday with a $2,864 carryover up for grabs in the $1 Super High 5.

The Super High 5 is available to bet on in the final race each evening. On Wednesday, that’s Race 9, a $15,000 maiden claimer for three-year-olds sprinting six furlongs on Tapeta.

Hitting the Super High 5 at Turfway often requires mixing longshots with short-priced contenders. With that in mind, here are five horses (at a variety of morning-line prices) we recommend including on your tickets:

#3 Daunted (12-1): Daunted has shown speed in each of his last three starts against tougher competition. He tired to finish 10th in a $40,000 maiden claimer racing one mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month, but he fared better two starts back in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Colonial Downs, finishing fourth by five lengths. Returning to a sprint distance, switching to Tapeta, and racing on Lasix for the first time could unlock a competitive run from Daunted.

#6 Point Barrow (9-2): On Dec. 11, Point Barrow ran respectably in a six-furlong $15,000 maiden claimer at Turfway Park, finishing fourth by 6 1/2 lengths. Sticking to the same conditions while adding Lasix for his three-year-old debut should put Point Barrow in the hunt for another top-five finish.

#7 Freestate (7-2): Our top choice is Freestate. He stayed reasonably close to a fast pace in a six-furlong $50,000 maiden claimer at Turfway last month before tiring to finish seventh. He’s placed at the maiden special weight level in the past and should appreciate tackling a $15,000 maiden claimer for trainer Kelsey Danner, a 22% winner with horses dropping multiple levels down the class ladder.

#10 Penitent (15-1): Granted, Penitent never challenged at any point when debuting with an eighth-place finish in a one-mile maiden special weight for Indiana-breds at Horseshoe Indianapolis. But perhaps switching from dirt to Tapeta, cutting back to six furlongs, adding Lasix, and picking up apprentice jockey Jose Gutierrez (who rides with a five-pound weight allowance) will unlock the improvement necessary for a top-five finish.

#11 Cimarron Strip (12-1): Since 2021, trainer John Ennis has compiled an excellent 5-for-24 (21%) record saddling first-time starters in sprints at Turfway Park. This bodes well for Cimarron Strip, an unraced son of Volatile, who sires a sharp 14% winners from first-time starters. Cimarron Strip breezed a quick half-mile from the starting gate in :48 last month and may outrun his odds.

Good luck!